Tensions in Hong Kong reach boiling point

Japan Times ^ | 07/02/2013 | JIJI

[TexGrill]

HONG KONG – Hundreds of thousands of protesters, some waving British colonial-era flags and sporting Edward Snowden masks, were to march in Hong Kong later Monday to denounce the city’s leaders and demand universal suffrage on its handover anniversary.

Organizers said they expected more than 400,000 people to take part in the annual rally for democracy, which comes amid concerns in the southern Chinese city that Beijing is increasingly meddling in its local affairs.

The annual march underscores the growing gulf between Hong Kong and the mainland 16 years after the city ceased to be a British colony and returned to Beijing’s control.

Those marching planned to express their unhappiness about Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who has been beset by one controversy after another since taking office a year ago. The unelected Leung was handpicked by a committee of mostly pro-Beijing and pro-business elites. A widening income gap and soaring property prices will also drive the march.

“The main goal of the rally is to push through for genuine democracy and to ask for Leung to step down,” said Jackie Hung, a member of the march organizer, the Civil Human Rights Front.

“Hong Kong people have been waiting too long for universal suffrage and for building a democratic city,” said another member of the group, Andrew Shum. “Many people feel very angry.”

[TexGrill]

What's odd about many Hong Kong protestors is that they love to wear T-shirts showing the face of Che Guevera. It's as if they're saying, "We Demand North Korea Kim Jong-ul rule over us in Hong Kong."

[TexGrill]

Oops I meant to say Kim Jong-un.

[Viennacon]

I’d say most of those people probably don’t know who Che even was. They just know the symbolism.

Hong Kongers can keep dreaming. China isn’t letting go of that pearl any time soon.

[teacherwoes]

The problem with Hong Kong is that when it was a British colony it was ruled by British laws and British interpretations of the law. Now it is ruled by British laws and Chinese interpretations of the law.

People think nothing is going to change until 50 years after the change of ownership. Things are already have started to change, slowly, and Beijing can crack down at anytime if they choose.